Two veteran ABC radio rugby league commentators have been suspended while management investigates an allegedly racist remark that went to air during last Saturday's match between the Sydney Roosters and Canterbury.

The former premiership-winning coach Warren Ryan allegedly used the term "old darky" to emphasise a point, Fairfax Media reported.

His fellow commentator David Morrow was being investigated for finding the remark humorous.

The ABC announced the suspensions in a statement on Friday, after receiving complaints from listeners.

The statement said Ryan and Morrow had been asked to submit a formal response and no further comment would be made until the investigation was complete.